Chapter 74 That's a really nice insult.
After a night of absurdity, Shen You slept very soundly.
The morning air was chilly, and the fallen leaves in the yard were swept up by the wind.
Uncle Chen whispered to the servants sweeping and cleaning to keep their voices down so as not to disturb their master inside.
In this Duke Zhenguo's mansion, the only true master now is Chu Xiao.
He rarely interfered in the affairs of the mansion, but everyone knew that he was taciturn and stern, and that he was not like some wealthy families outside who would beat or scold their servants at the drop of a hat.
Unless you mess with him.
Previously, a maid had harbored wicked intentions and tried to climb the ranks, which enraged Chu Xiao, who ordered her to be beaten to death.
Because of this incident, all the maids in Chenfeng Courtyard were subsequently reassigned to other courtyards.
However, since Shen You was here today, Uncle Chen had arranged for two clever maids to wait in the courtyard, ready to be at his beck and call.
It was past midnight when the bright sunlight shone through the window and fell on the undergarments piled up beside the bed.
In the bed, Shen You was completely hidden under the covers, nestled in the man's arms.
Chu Xiao had already woken up, but since it was his day off and he had a beautiful woman in his arms, he decided to stay in bed a little longer.
The bed was dimly lit by curtains, but as a martial artist, he could see clearly even in the dark.
His gaze remained fixed on the girl's slightly flushed cheeks as she slept.
Shen You's fingertips twitched slightly, as if she was about to wake up, but she simply turned over and faced away from him, continuing to sleep.
Chu Xiao's arm around her waist slowly tightened, pulling her back into his embrace.
They were very close, and his breath sprayed onto her neck.
The traces he left last night were still on her fair skin. He lowered his head and buried himself in her soft warmth, gently rubbing and kissing her slender shoulders.
In her dream, Shen You felt an annoying big dog licking her incessantly, leaving several wet spots on her body.
Even if you want to break free, you can't.
This big dog is very clingy.
She frowned slightly, clutching the corner of the blanket as she moved further into the bed.
But the blanket was pulled open, and a cool breeze blew in, making her shiver and wake up.
Chu Xiao carried her back, his lips still lingering on her neck, his voice low and husky, "Awake? Are you hungry? Shall we get up and have some food?"
The man's voice was low, magnetic, and slightly husky. What caught her eye was the curtain against the wall. In the dimly lit environment, Shen You was a little taken aback.
She blinked, then slowly lowered her head and saw a large hand with slightly bulging veins brazenly covering her chest.
Last night, Chu Xiao carried her to the bath to wash up. When she came out, she was already drowsy and didn't notice how she was dressed or whose clothes she was wearing.
Only now did she realize—
She was wearing Chu Xiao's plain-colored undergarment.
The man's undergarment was loose and baggy, and because he had been hugging her back and forth, her neckline was now almost completely open.
Her fair and soft skin was half-hidden and half-revealed as it fell into a warm, large hand.
Perhaps sensing that her heartbeat quickened for a moment, Chu Xiao's hand moved slightly.
Shen You's ears turned bright red, and she quickly pulled his hand away, gripping his collar tightly.
His outrageous behavior from last night inappropriately came to mind.
He muttered under his breath, "Reckless."
Chu Xiao's Adam's apple bobbed heavily, then he wrapped his arms around her, his tall frame arching slightly, almost pulling her into his embrace. He kissed her ear, his voice laced with barely perceptible pleasure, "What did you say to me?"
Shen You was so pestered by him that she could hardly turn over. No longer keeping her voice down, she repeated, "Reckless!"
Chu Xiao's breathing was heavy, but his heart was beating faster than usual. He gently bit her exposed shoulder and said in a low voice, "Your scolding was really nice."
Shen You froze, almost doubting what he had heard.
After a long pause, she managed to utter, "Pervert."
Chu Xiao wasn't angry at all because of her scolding. Instead, he hugged her even tighter. Even through her winter undergarments, she could feel the man's heartbeat and the texture of his muscles behind her gradually becoming excited.
Shen You pursed her lips and tried to push him away with her elbow, but to no avail. He easily grabbed her waist and turned her to face him.
Soft, delicate kisses fell, carrying tender and lingering affection.
The bed was already warm, and with his tall, hot body pressed tightly against hers.
Shen You felt hot all over, her body went limp from his kisses, and soft moans came from the bed, just like the night before.
She only snapped back to reality when the large hands that had been roaming around her waist began to move downwards, gently touching her crotch through the thin fabric of her undergarment.
She pushed him, panting, "...No."
With just those two words, Chu Xiao restrained himself and withdrew his hand, pressing his burning palm against the soft flesh of her waist, unconsciously applying force as if suppressing some surging impulse.
He was breathing even harder than she was, his heavy, rapid breaths rising and falling, his strong chest heaving, his muscles pressed tightly against her half-exposed, delicate skin, the heat lingering around him, and even the faint, soft fragrance of a young woman gradually spreading.
Shen You snapped out of her reverie, pursed her lips, and said, "I need to wash up."
“Okay,” Chu Xiao didn’t intend to do anything at this moment, but the impulses in his heart and body were hard to suppress whenever he touched her.
I just want to be as close to her as possible.
Closer, even closer.
It's best to keep them closely connected.
Shen You clutched the blanket to her chest and sat up straight, with Chu Xiao following suit.
The curtain was lifted, and the bright sunlight outside poured in.
The weather is nice today; the warm winter sun shines gently into the room through the window.
The dressing table was right by the window, and its contents were completely different from last night; every drawer and compartment, every dressing case, was now filled.
Shen You withdrew her gaze and was about to ask him to borrow a few maids when she saw him walk to the wardrobe by himself, take out a complete and clean plain blue brocade dress with butterfly embroidery, turn around and come to her, "I will help you put it on."
Shen You looked up at him, "The Duke's mansion has no maids?"
“Yes,” he said, lowering his eyes and letting his deep gaze fall on her beautiful face.
Perhaps because of the kiss just now, the girl's delicate and refined features were flushed, her beautiful eyes were glistening with tears, and her red lips were slightly swollen, clearly showing what she had been through.
Chu Xiao didn't want anyone to see her like this, not even her maid.
He took a small round mirror from the dressing table and handed it to her.
Shen You was puzzled, but still subconsciously looked at himself in the mirror.
One glance was enough to make me awkwardly look away.
She cleared her throat and held out her hand to him, "Give me the clothes, I'll put them on myself."
Judging from his appearance in the bed room just now, she was very suspicious of his purpose in helping her get dressed.
Chu Xiao glanced at her a few times, but didn't insist any further. After handing her the clothes, he turned and went into the bathroom.
After the two had finished getting ready, Uncle Chen had already ordered someone to serve them a meal.
After having breakfast, Shen You got up to leave.
Chu Xiao didn't ask her where she was going; he simply followed her closely.
She turned around and stared at him intently. "Don't you need to go to the Criminal Investigation Department?"
He said, "Today is a day off."
He usually prioritizes official duties, and he won't rest even on his days off until he reunites with her.
Now, whenever he has time, all he thinks about is being with her.
Even if I don't have time, I want to create time to be with her.
Shen You glanced at him with a half-smile, "I'm going to the embroidery tower."
Chu Xiaoyuan thought she didn't like him following her, but as soon as Shen You said this, he keenly sensed the possibility that she might change her mind, and quickly said, "Today I will be your guard and servant."
A faint smile appeared in Shen You's eyes as he turned and headed straight for the carriage outside the door.
Chu Xiao followed her.
Although servants shouldn't be curious about their masters' affairs, the servants in the Duke's mansion were all astonished by the way the two interacted.
Why does their master look so worthless?
The eldest daughter of the Shen family didn't even need to hook her finger; she only needed to smile, and their master would cling to her tightly.
Even after the two left the Duke's mansion, some of the bolder servants still cautiously craned their necks to look curiously.
Uncle Chen passed by, coughed heavily several times in a deep voice, and then they scattered like birds and beasts.
Mu Geng leaned closer, clicked his tongue twice, and muttered in a low voice, "My lord doesn't even pay attention."
Uncle Chen glanced at him with an expression that said, "What do you know?"
My lord, that's a brilliant move.
Even before Miss Shen married into the Duke's mansion, he was already thinking about how to establish her authority.
Mu Geng was puzzled and scratched his head, about to ask for clarification, when Uncle Chen turned around and led the tree farmers who had come to maintain the osmanthus trees that day toward Chenfeng Courtyard.
***
Fifteen minutes later, in the second-floor wing of the Ruyi Embroidery Building in the East Market.
Bao Yunxiu never expected that Chu Xiao would come with Shen You today. When she first saw him, her legs trembled and she knelt down before her mind could process it, "...Lord Duke".
Chu Xiao's expression was somber; he didn't spare a glance for her, focusing solely on brewing tea for Shen You.
Shen You glanced at the man beside him, reached out to help Bao Yunxiu up, and handed the tea that he had poured for himself to Bao Yunxiu, "Sit down and talk."
Bao Yunxiu swallowed hard, not daring to accept the cup of tea.
She handed the items in her hand to Shen You, "This is the order form from the Yong'an Marquis's family that day to order embroidered screens from the embroidery shop, along with the style and dimensions of the embroidered screens, all of which are here."
Previously, people from the Yong'an Marquis's Mansion had ordered an embroidered screen from Ruyi Embroidery Building. At the time, Shen You did not notice anything unusual. Now, thinking back, this embroidered screen must have been ordered by Madam Wen for Wen Tingyuan to renovate the courtyard.
Since Wen Tingyuan is now acting differently, this business deal needs to be carefully examined. Therefore, Shen You came to the embroidery building today to see the original order form and the specifications and dimensions.
Bao Yunxiu didn't even sit down. After handing the things to Shen You, she made up an excuse about needing to look after the business downstairs and hurriedly went downstairs.
Chu Xiao didn't say a word from beginning to end.
The man was tall and strong. Although he had outstanding facial features, his aura was sharp and solemn, and his unsmiling appearance was enough to make people feel intimidated.
Bao Yunxiu was an ordinary commoner, and she had a natural fear of high-ranking officials, so she didn't dare to sit down and chat with Shen You as usual.
Shen You had important business to attend to today and didn't have time to deal with Chu Xiao. He was busy making an order and carefully reviewing it.
Unbeknownst to her, Shen Xiangning was lifting her skirt and stepping into the shop downstairs.
Bao Yunxiu greeted her with a smile, "Young lady, our shop offers a wide variety of embroidered items with exquisite designs."
"We've recently released some new designs for sachets. Would you like to take a look?"
Chen Xiangning shook her head and said calmly, "Do you offer custom-made embroidered screens here?"
“Of course,” Bao Yunxiu smiled, gesturing for Chen Xiangning to enter the tea room on the first floor. “This way, miss…”
However, before he could finish speaking, a strange male voice rang out from the shop entrance.
"This must be the second daughter of the Shen family."
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